Kerala Revenue Dept tops in file pendency, many lost in transit

Thiruvananthapuram: Files stuck in red tape slow down development on various fronts and the state administration in Kerala at various levels is not immune from it.

At least 1.21 lakh files await disposal in various departments in the secretariat, as per an assessment by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department of the Kerala government. These apart, hundreds of files also await decision in the offices of the chief minister and other ministers.

This revelation on file pendency assumes significance as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had famously stated that ‘every file is a life,’ exhorting officials to adopt a proactive approach in clearing pending files.

The assessment said at least 75 per cent of applications made by the public and institutions to the government were pending.

Most number of files were pending at the Revenue Department: 17,300. The chief minister had stated in the Assembly that the movement of files would be expedited and tracked. But reports said most officials were lackadaisical and noncommittal when it came to taking up work.

Curiously, many files had been lost during inter-department ‘transit.’ The CM could not give a number to the files lost that way. He told the Assembly that the number of files lost was being ascertained.

Sources said the next cabinet meet would consider launching the Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) to infuse the much-needed professionalism in government service.

Service organisations had opposed the new service and the government was ready to implement the KAS with amendments.

The Kerala Chief Minister also heads the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department.